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Caught Caring: Cat Cora and Chefs for Humanity

The crisis in Haiti remains at the forefront of Hollywood’s philanthropic efforts, and while the contributions of some celebrities have been well-documented, others are doing their part as well.

Iron Chef star Cat Cora — founder of Chefs For Humanity — has called on her culinary peers to raise $1 million in one month. The mom-of-four donated $10,000 personally and is asking 99 others to match the sum; Thus far, celebrity chefs Rachael Ray, Paula Deen and many others have heeded her call.

Cat Cora with the WaWaBoom community in Nicaragua in 2008

Orchestrated in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme, the ’1 Million in 1 Month for Haiti’ campaign will be funded completely by Cat, herself. “I will personally cover all costs,” she promises. In an interview this week, she added:

“I know it’s hard to give back, donate and support a family in this economy, but for me, it is important to set an example about giving all that you can. Is it hard? Yes. But do we have more than most? Of course. That is why I really wanted to set the bar there.”

Chefs For Humanity was born five years ago in the wake of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Noting that there was “nothing like the World Food Organization specifically for chefs and culinary professionals,” Cat, 42, says she was happy to fill the void.

Ever since, her organization has been working to deliver hunger relief and aid to impoverished nations throughout the world.

Along the way it has developed domestic programs as well, like Every Kid C.A.N. — a curriculum designed to assist families in making better food choices.

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. In operation since 1962, it works side-by-side with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) — as well as other government, UN and NGO partners — to get food to those who need it most.

In 2010 it hopes to provide more than 90 million people with food assistance in 73 countries. Around 10,000 people work for the organization, most of them in remote areas, directly serving the hungry poor.

Cat and wife Jennifer have four sons: Zoran, 6, Caje, 2 ½, Thatcher Julius, 9 months, and Nash Lemuel, 6 months.